Veteran cricketer-turned-commentator Aakash Chopra has suggested a few Indian head coach options for the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) ahead of IPL 2027 as well. He said Ravichandran Ashwin could be one of the contenders, stating that the former India spinner has played a lot with MS Dhoni as well. Notably, CSK parted ways with Stephen Fleming, their head coach since the second edition of the Indian Premier League, after finishing eighth in IPL 2026 as well. Ashwin, who played for CSK in IPL 2025, retired from the league before this year’s tournament as well.

In a video shared on his YouTube channel, ‘Aakash Chopra,’ he said, “If coaching credentials are not seen, he has a Chennai connection, he has a tactical brain, and is an astute thinker of the game, then you don’t need to go too far from Ravichandran Ashwin. I don’t know how much he is interested in coaching. He runs a coaching academy. He is tactically extremely brilliant.”

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“He likes to manage a team as well. He is the manager of a TNPL team at the moment. Why not him? Have a conversation. He can be a long-term investment. When you look at the Indians, they might want to go towards a slightly high-profile one. He has played a lot with Dhoni. He rates Ruturaj highly. He likes him a lot, and I think the feeling will be mutual. So why not Ravichandran Ashwin?” he further added.

“What about Suresh Raina? He has such a massive Chennai connection that when Dhoni left cricket, he also left along with him. He bleeds yellow. He loves this franchise a lot. He is 100 percent committed in that direction. There was talk about whether Chinna Thala could become the batting coach or could get a mentor’s role. Why not Suresh Raina? If you are thinking that neither Ashwin nor Raina has coaching experience as such, Ashish Nehra and Zaheer Khan didn’t have it either, but they also did a good job,” he again added.

However, Aakash Chopra also suggested Hemang Badani as another Indian head coach option for the Chennai Super Kings, claiming that the Delhi Capitals (DC) would release him for that role as well.

“What about Hemang Badani? He comes from Chennai. He has been Delhi’s coach. I feel Delhi will release him now. Dada (Sourav Ganguly) will come there. JSW will manage it now. So the GMR guys will be released. So I feel Hemang Badani would bid goodbye from there, unless it’s already happened. Why not Chennai? He is a homegrown guy,” he said.

“What about Baba Bangar? It’s not just about the Chennai connection also. He has been India’s coach. MS Dhoni was there when he was India’s batting coach. He has been the Punjab Kings’ coach and has worked with RCB. He has got a portfolio. He has managed many IPL teams and the Indian team,” Aakash Chopra concluded.